Re: Is editing photos fair?
Lets get one thing straight from the start, it is not the camera that makes a photo it is the nose behind it that does.I have done photography for some years starting off with a box brownie 127 35mm film camera to my present day Nikon D800. I can assure you a great picture is first seen by eye and then by a camera.
So what is the difference?
for example the average person would look at a flower and see the height and colour and that is it.
A photographer would look at the same flower for any blemishes- the way it is shaped- how the light goes onto it- the best angle to shoot at ie ground level- what makes the flower stand out, could be leaf markings.
Like anything it is practise that improves and self criticism, One can be pointed on how to improve a photo but it is up to the individual if they are able to.
AS for photoshopping i think it is quite acceptable within reason. I can see no difference in that and taking the same photo at different times of a day to produce a different picture, ie dawn and midday ,the photos would look entirely different.
Sever photoshopping is coming into the realms of abstract art and should be classified as that.
so it boils down to is photoshopping acceptable for competition? here lies the nuts and bolts of the yes/no arguement.
When making rules they should be explicit as to what is and is not allowed?. Should for example a colour photo be accepted if changed to a black and white one if the competion is for black and white photos only?
You could go on making rules until the cows come home, so infact general guidlines are the best way to go and allow a certain tolerance as to how those rules are interpreted.
if a photo is taken but not interested in competition then what pleases the photographer is good enough, if others like it then it is a bonus.
Competition brings out the worse in people, such as mine is bigger /better/faster/ more expensive than yours.
In the dog world to get to Crufts so often it is from one judge to another I will qualify your dog if you will do the same for me. Totally unfair but it happens in all walks of life and we have to accept it.
Take women for example (yes please,) should women wear makup to look better? or is that photoshopping the face. I see little difference between that and improving a photo by editing it